Photo of Erica Mackie.

Erica Mackie was inducted into the Environment Category in 2019.

My Story

Erica is co-founder and CEO of Oakland-based GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer. Through GRID, Erica works towards economic and environmental justice by making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. Using a unique, people-first model, GRID develops solar projects that serve qualifying households and affordable housing providers, while offering solar education and hands-on job training to help people jumpstart their careers. GRID provides no-cost solar to more than 1,600 low-income families each year and has provided job training to nearly 30,000 individuals to date, including women, veterans and individuals who were formerly incarcerated.